Filing for Bankruptcy

Answer 1

No one ever plans to file for bankruptcy, but if you ever find yourself in a financial bind, filing for bankruptcy to remove most of your debts may be the only alternative you have to start over again and reclaim your life. By filing for bankruptcy, you can protect yourself from creditors that may try to repossess your property and who often make harassing calls to your home.

In the United States, individuals that need to declare bankruptcy can file for either chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy protection. Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection is the typical bankruptcy that everyone thinks of when they hear the word. In chapter 7 bankruptcy, the courts will try to liquidate your assets in order to pay off your creditors. Once all your assets have been sold off, the rest of your debts will be discharged by the bankruptcy court. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is slightly different. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is often called a working man's bankruptcy and is intended for people that have jobs. In chapter 13 bankruptcy, your bills become reorganized and consolidated. You will then have to work out a payment plan for the courts. Once the court has approved your plan, you have a certain amount of time to pay off your debt according to the plan. Should you fail to adhere to the plan, your bankruptcy protection will be nullified, opening you up once again to creditors.

In order to qualify for chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, you need to pass what the government calls a means test. In order to pass the means test and meet the qualifications for chapter 7 bankruptcy, you need to earn less than the median income of the state in which you reside. If you earn more than $167 over the median income of the state you do not qualify for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Many people want to qualify for chapter 7 because it discharges most of their debts instead of making them repay it later as in chapter 13.

Chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies can eliminate most debts, but some debts can almost never be discharged by bankruptcy courts. This includes student loan debts, lawsuit awards, spouse and child support, and most taxes. Also before filing for bankruptcy it is important to know how a filing can affect the rest of your life. For one thing, chapter 7 stays on your credit report for up to 10 years. Chapter 13 bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for 7 years. Having a bankruptcy on your credit report will make it difficult to obtain loans, get credit cards, find housing, or even gaining employment.